Athlon's top 25 for 2016:

[schadenfreude]

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Oklahoma
4. Ohio State
5. Florida State
6. Norte Dame
7. Michigan
8. Tennessee
9. Louisiana State
10. Baylor
11. Michigan State
12. Stanford
13. Mississippi
14. Oklahoma State
15. Houston
16. Southern California
17. Iowa
18. North Carolina
19. Washington
20. Georgia
21. Texas Christian
22. Louisville
23. Washington State
24. Oregon
25. Florida

Ten Teams to Watch: Arkansas, Auburn, Boise State, Northwestern, South Florida, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin

 

[IntransigentMind]

I think Tennessee will be a very good team and dominate the SEC east next season.

OSU is losing a ton and plays at OU to start the season. Their recruiting classes have been excellent but a lot of big shoes to fill. I think starting at 4 is too high, maybe 10 or so.

IM

 

[Nocalirish]

No. 6 and we dont even know who the starting qb is.

 

[Runforit]

"I think Tennessee will be a very good team and dominate the SEC east next season."

They may be good, but dominate the SEC? - I don't think so. Nine of the 35 schools listed are in the SEC.

 

[ivan brunetti]

"I think Tennessee will be a very good team and dominate the SEC east next season."

They may be good, but dominate the SEC? - I don't think so. Nine of the 35 schools listed are in the SEC.

The SEC East is a mess and is ripe for Vols taking. I agree they aren't up to the Alabama standard, but it wouldn't surprise me if they became the second best team in the SEC.

 

[john0gaunt]

OP - can spell Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisville, but not Notre Dame?

Hint: It is spelled for you in the address bar of your browser.

 

[michigaNDer#1]

Here's the facts:

74.2% of preseason #6s win the NC

49.7% of preseason #7s end up unranked.

 

[IntransigentMind]

I love cool stats MichigaNDer, but that can be real, right? Is that like a "60% of the time it works everytime"...

 

[michigaNDer#1]

I love cool stats MichigaNDer, but that can be real, right? Is that like a "60% of the time it works everytime"...

I love Sex Panther. Stings the nostrils.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Michigan vastly over rated. Lose a ton to graduation and didn't even win their division this year.

 

[ivan brunetti]

Michigan vastly over rated. Lose a ton to graduation and didn't even win their division this year.

Incorrect as we lose very little to graduation. We lose our QB in Rudock (have another grad QB transferring in) and our center on offense. Also our fullback but that is easy to replace. On defense we will probably lose Henry at DT (although he hasn't declared as yet), and our starting LBs (who should be easy to replace with players as good), and one safety.

We have to replace MUCH less than ND, Ohio State or Sparty.

 

[ivan brunetti]

OP - can spell Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisville, but not Notre Dame?

Hint: It is spelled for you in the address bar of your browser.

sorry: copied and pasted

 

[michigaNDer#1]

sorry: copied and pasted

So you're two people?

 

[john0gaunt]

sorry: copied and pasted

Not a cutdown, just thought it was interesting you nailed all the hard words but failed with Notre Dame.

 

[schadenfreude]

So you're two people?

yes, home and work PCs

 

[bizzybecknd]

ND should start at 15ish

 

[Duo]

No. 6 and we dont even know who the starting qb is.

Same is true for #5 FSU. Interesting the ACC has 2 in the top 5 with ND pulling up at #6! (half of the top 6....Wow!) They will all get a lot of national attention...........especially when FSU plays Clemson in Tallahassee.

 

[perseverare]

So you're two people?

hmmm, what if he says yes and no?

 

[coolirish9]

they probably have our irish ranked really high because of the schedule that sets up nicely for our irish and plus for the fact that some players like joe at LB are being replaced with faster and more athletic players. our irish will also maybe have the best trio of qbs to choose from in spring practice and in which either of them could probably start for most teams next year that run a spread type offense

 

[hvillebill]

Incorrect as we lose very little to graduation. We lose our QB in Rudock (have another grad QB transferring in) and our center on offense. Also our fullback but that is easy to replace. On defense we will probably lose Henry at DT (although he hasn't declared as yet), and our starting LBs (who should be easy to replace with players as good), and one safety.

We have to replace MUCH less than ND, Ohio State or Sparty.

What's the problem at QB that you need another grad transfer? Can't Harbaugh develop one of his own?

 

[Pennick4]

What's the problem at QB that you need another grad transfer? Can't Harbaugh develop one of his own?

He did wonders with Kap. while Alex Smith is in the playoffs.

 

[Okie70]

Pretty good rankings. Ala. unlikely to be No. 1 no matter what happens on Monday night. 11 senior starters and Robinson and Henry probably locks to declare early. TCU, Oregon and Houston probably should be higher. N Dame slotted about right given the talent coming back.